'When I tell him that we're going cycling, you can see his face light up': Louth Disability Cycling Club celebrates successful summer

The Louth Disability Cycling Club marked the end of the summer season with a final group cycle.

The club celebrated the end of the season on August 28 at Ice House Hill Park, Dundalk, Co. Louth.

Over the summer, the club, which was only formed in January of this year, has regularly welcomed 15 to 20 children with additional needs and adult wheelchair users each week, offering them the chance to experience the joys of cycling. Making it all possible is a dedicated team of more than 15 volunteers including members from the local Cuchulainn Cycling Club.

Founded by Paul Callan, Mark Duffy and former competitive cyclist Gary Sheils, the club was established with a singular goal: to make cycling accessible to everyone, regardless of age or disability.

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Reflecting on his motivation for starting the club, Sheils, who suffered a severe neck injury that left him paralysed, shared: "I hadn’t enjoyed the experience of being out on a bike after my injury until I got the chance to go out on a wheelchair-friendly bike. I wanted more people with additional needs to have the same experience, so we set up the Louth Disability Cycling Club, which is affiliated with Cycling Ireland, and I became chairman – no pun intended."

Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú, a volunteer with the club, highlighted the importance of these weekly rides: "There's a real lack of services for children with autism and supports for their parents. These weekly rides are easily accessible, great fun for the kids, a community for the parents, and completely free."

The club’s reach has extended far beyond Dundalk, primarily through their Facebook page, "Louth Disability Cycling Club," which has attracted over 1,100 followers from across the country and beyond.

"We've people from all over the country following us and trying to emulate what we're doing. I had messages from a woman in Australia recently who was looking for advice on how to set up a club down there," said Sheils.

Due to repairs at their usual location, St. Helena's Park, the final ride of the season was held at Ice House Hill Park. Despite the venue change, the enthusiasm among the children and young adults remained high.

Lorraine, a healthcare worker and mother of eleven-year-old Oscar, expressed her gratitude: "Oscar is non-verbal, so he can't say that he loves it, but when I tell him that we're going cycling, you can see his face light up. And the volunteers are so good, my two other children come as well, and they love getting a spin on the bikes too. It’s a real family event."

Maintaining the club's fleet of 20 specialised bikes, some costing up to €15,000, has been a challenge, but support from local businesses, councillors, volunteers, and Variety – the children’s charity, has been invaluable. "We got up and running with some bikes through donations, and it’s been a lot of work, but we have 20 bikes altogether right now," said Callan. 

As the Wednesday evening cycles conclude, the club looks ahead to their next big event on September 8 when they’ll bring their fleet of bikes to St. Anne’s Park in Dublin for Children’s Disability Cycling Day 2024 for people to ride between 12.45pm and 3pm.

Minister Catherine Martin will be in attendance as she presents a bike from Variety to a child on the day.

Anyone who’s interested in getting out for a spin on their bikes or would like to volunteer should meet in the Red Stables Car Park.

For further information, you can follow the Louth Disability Cycling Club on Facebook.